Scottsdale, AZ: It’s not often that we review individual hotels these days; the ever-increasing number of social media platforms and both hoteliers’ and guests’ use of them mean that there’s not much that’s not been written and shown about practically every lodging on the planet.

Today though, we found ourselves back at one of our favourite properties, which we wrote about last in 2008. And today just happened to be the day that Scottsdale’s The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, the ultra-luxe enclave within The Phoenician AAA Five Diamond resort, reopened to guests following a multi-million dollar makeover.

Part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, The Canyon Suites is already a Forbes Five Star retreat held in high regard by loyal returning guests, and (often) slack-jawed awe by first-time check-ins. Professional, gracious, engaging Ambassadors are permanently on-hand to assist, advise and make sure that guests make the most of their stay.

At the exclusive poolside, reserved for Canyon guests alone, service is so slickly impressive, you may wonder why all resorts can’t clone the Suites’ superstar server.

And at the front door, bell staff enthusiasm is way more than the Valley of the Sun’s soaring summertime temperatures should permit.

So, when news of a 2016 closure and relaunch was relayed to long-time guests, the common call was for as little change as possible.

Now then, is the moment of truth….

The signs of lavish expenditure are all around, as soon as the shade of the porte cochère is given up for the cool of the marbled lobby. The fountain anchors the front of house, but behind the lobby opens out in a way that’s plusher, lighter and yet more cosily intimate than before, and certainly more-so than any triple-height space could be expected to be.

To the guest corridors, and the carpeting, the wall coverings, the ceiling treatments and the light fittings are all showroom-fresh.

And, once ensconced in a Canyon Suite itself, only the coving, the skirting and the signature louvre-panel internal doors will prove familiar. From sound bar TV systems with online access to Netflix et al, to Nespresso coffee machines, to the furniture, beds, drapery, carpeting, wall decoration and artwork – every bit is new.

Here are definite mid-century cues throughout; solid, comfortable, design-led pieces that arguably echo a time when modernity was enthused over, but traditional standards of craftsmanship prevailed. A time before blue-box retail, Allen Keys and the expectation of imminent collapse defined contemporary design.

Yet, despite the transformation, nothing here will frighten The Canyon Suites‘ most loyal evangelists. It’s a credit to the teams behind the renovation that they’ve so-successfully retained The Canyon‘s unique air, while zephyring the fresh breeze of change throughout the entire building.

Outside, it’s familiar and new, too. Guests will now find an al fresco dining area between the lobby and the waterfalls, ready to welcome them for the launch of The Canyon Suites‘ complimentary breakfast service.

Poolside, there’s barely a shade of change, with eagle-eyed Canyonistas perhaps the only ones who’ll spot a new hue.

Sports fans, in particular, availing of the pool’s private cabanas will doubtless appreciate new 32″ LCDs on which to catch the game, whilst continuing to chill out of the sun.

But, for many guests the biggest change, and the one that reportedly a significant number have long campaigned-for (we even mentioned it in 2008), is the final arrival of The Canyon Suites‘ own bar, to compliment the lobby’s new lounge.

It’s a haven of craft whiskies, of wines cellared with the latest technology; it’s an open wall where intimate evenings will be accented with small bites, and where sun-flooded mornings will see The Canyon‘s market-fresh breakfasts greeting early-risers.

With The Phoenician’s main hotel building also receiving the first hints of a 2017 full-scale reworking, aimed at establishing the whole estate as the finest resort in whole South West, it’s heartening to see the care and attention that’s gone in to The Canyon Suites, and into reflecting the thoughts, feedback and requests of countless guests.

Indeed, it’s not just the relaunching of The Canyon Suites; it’s definitively the reloving of The Canyon Suites.

Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme of hotel brands including Sheraton, Westin, W, The Luxury Collection and St Regis, has now opened registration for its ‘Bring on the Nights‘ Q1 2014 promotion.

Members will have the opportunity to earn 2,500 bonus Starpoints for every five eligible nights stayed (up to 10,000 bonus Starpoints and 20 eligible nights) and an additional 5,000 bonus Starpoints when they hit 25 eligible nights.

Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme of hotel brands including Sheraton, Westin, W, The Luxury Collection and St Regis, has announced the first details of its Q1 2014 promotion, entitled ‘Bring on the Nights‘.

Members will have the opportunity to earn 2,500 bonus Starpoints for every five eligible nights stayed (up to 10,000 bonus Starpoints and 20 eligible nights) and an additional 5,000 bonus Starpoints when they hit 25 eligible nights.

Most of the major global hotel brands have now launched their bonus promotions for the first three or four months of 2012. So, here’s the Continental Club guide to five of the biggest promotions and how to register for them. Remember, membership of these programmes is free and you can sign up for the promotions as soon as you become a member – or even at the same time as you become one.

Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme of Le Meridien, Aloft, Four Points, Westin, The Luxury Collection, W, Sheraton, St Regis and Element hotels, has announced its forthcoming member promotion for the first months of 2013.

Entitled ‘SPG Power Up’, members will earn 2,000 bonus Starpoints® for every four eligible nights stayed (up to 8,000 bonus Starpoints and 16 nights). An additional 10,000 bonus Starpoints will be awarded when 20 eligible nights have been consumed.

Registration will open in early January to register, and eligible stays at any of the hotels and resorts in the SPG programme from January 15 through April 15, 2013 will qualify.

To set a reminder to register, members can text “PWRUP” to 447950080934 in the U.K. to opt in. Opted-in members will receive three text messages from Starwood for the campaign. One message will be sent after opting in, asking you to respond with keyword “YES” to verify that you would like to receive the reminder text. Once you do so, you will also get a text confirming that you have been opted in. Then, when the promotion is live, you will get the reminder text with registration information. Message and data rates will apply.

For more details, full terms and conditions and to register once the promotion is live, visit spg.com.

Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme for Aloft, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Luxury Collection, Sheraton, St Regis, Westin and W Hotels, is offering its members the opportunity to purchase additional Starpoints at a 20% discount until 14th December 2012.

Members may purchase Starpoints for themselves or others, as long as their accounts are at least 60 days old, and SPG say that purchases will credit to member accounts within 24 hours.

Although purchasing points instead of paying for a hotel stay rarely achieves a cost saving, points purchase to top-up an account can make economic sense. SPG also allows the conversion of Starpoints to airline programmes, offering an additional 5,000 Starpoint bonus for every 20,000 transferred out.

This transfer opportunity, especially with the current and ongoing bonuses, offers a means of buying more airline miles per annum than the airlines themselves may allow within their own scheme, and/or a means of acquiring airline miles more cheaply than from the airlines. Note however that there may be a short delay in transferred Starpoints subsequently appearing in an airline account.

As a worked example, most members of the British Airways Executive Club may purchase a maximum of 24,000 Avios each calendar year. That’s 4,000 more Avios than are needed for a return Club World upgrade from Premium Economy on a roundtrip from the UK to the East Coast USA. Buying them from BA currently costs £399.

Buying 20,000 Starpoints by 14th December will cost $560; which currently converts to c£360 when paid for by credit card. Convert the Starpoints to Avios, and members will receive 25,000 Avios, for 10% less than 24,000 would have cost from BA, and effectively lifting the annual purchase limit to 49,000 Avios; or almost enough for two East Coast USA Club World upgrades.

Members of the Starwood Preferred Guest programme can register to receive a rebate of between 30% and 50% when they use their Starpoints for award stays at 21 selected resorts in North America this season.

The loyalty programme for guests of Le Meridien, aloft, Four Points, Westin, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, St Regis and element properties has launched the promotion for award stays taken between 21st October and 20th December 2012.

Members must register prior to their stay and by no later than 30th November, and stays already booked but consumed after registration will qualify.